Media Criticism & Chronicles from a Former Reporter

Republicans, Democrats both divided on whether media should report on secret anti-terror methods

The American public is divided in its approval of the government’s anti-terrorism surveillance programs as well as in its opinion about whether the news media should report on what it finds out about secret methods being used to fight terrorism.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 50% of Americans approve of the government’s collection of telephone and internet data as part of anti-terrorism efforts, while 44% disapprove. In addition, Americans are evenly divided about whether the news media should report on the government’s secret anti-terrorism methods, with 47% saying it should and an equal number disagreeing.

Both Democrats and Republicans reflect these divisions. Half (51%) in each party say the news media should not report information they obtain about the secret methods the government uses to fight terrorism. About the same percentage of Democrats (45%) and Republicans (43%) say the news media should report that…

Journalism Ends Here

Adam F. Hutton

I have a Master's degree in Political Science and a Bachelor's degree in Media Studies. I'm a journalist and political scientist who writes about politics and media at Politics Starts Here and Journalism Ends Here. I tweet from @adamfhutton and @JournalismEnds.